eBay

postingid7659 · ‎03-04-2019

Got a package back today marked unclaimed by addressee. It has two items in it won by the same buyer.

Tracking shows "Notice Left (No Secure Location Available)" when delivery attempted on 2/2, then "Unclaimed/Return to Sender" on 2/27. From there it comes back to me.

What are my liabilities here?  I presume he's entitled to a partial refund (less shipping, maybe a restocking fee) if he doesn't want to pay to ship the items again. From what I can see if they open a case eBay or Paypal should decide in my favor based on the tracking. But I have heard nothing from the buyer in all this time. For all I know they died or something.

This only sold to a town about two hours away and I have to pass in that direction for an event in about four weeks, I was considering offering to allow them to pick up at that event if they would like. Did that successfully with a sale this last Friday, buyer picked up at an event we both attended on Saturday, although he also paid in person.

pburn · ‎03-04-2019

A package that is "Unclaimed/Return to Sender" is considered to be as good as "Delivered."

You could refund the buyer minus shipping. You are not entitled to a "restocking fee" as an eBay seller.

Setting up a face-to-face meeting is up to you; however, since you haven't heard from your buyer, I'm not sure I'd poke the bear.

goodluckselling · ‎03-04-2019

I would contact the buyer through the eBay messages and explain what has happened and ask them what they would like to do? This seems to work for me and I do this all the time when I get return to sender packages back for bad addresses and or forward time expired.

Good Luck Selling!

postingid7659 · ‎03-04-2019

That was my initial feeling, best not to poke the bear, and if I hear from them offer to meet at the event.

The items will re-sell easily, so I'm not concerned too much there, I can always relist them at some point down the road.

bigdeals.etc · ‎03-04-2019

Given the status of your tracking, if the buyer files an INR the bots will catch it and close it in your favor.

Here's what I would do. If I hear from the buyer and find out they don't want to re-pay to have it sent to them, I would tell them I can refund them the payment less the s/h and any fees (possible FVF or insertion) that may still incur. eBay/Paypal won't force any action from you.

Some sellers would just send it again and take the extra hit of paying for s/h without getting additional payment from the buyer. It's up to you what you want to do. Neither option is wrong.

ste-9405 · ‎03-04-2019

@postingid7659 wrote:
Got a package back today marked unclaimed by addressee. It has two items in it won by the same buyer.

From what I can see if they open a case eBay or Paypal should decide in my favor based on the tracking.

eBay considers all buyer delivery issues to be "Delivered" to the buyer, and blocks starting an INR request. But the buyer can start a SNAD for late delivery to get a full refund, yes, a return request with the seller's original tracking, either entered into the case or by calling eBay, showing delivered back to the seller's zipcode.

PayPal however more simply does not allow the seller to keep both the item and the cash, and will force a refund when PayPal cannot find the word "Delivered" to the buyer's zipcode in the tracking.

pburn · ‎03-04-2019

@ste-9405 wrote:
But the buyer can start a SNAD for late delivery to get a full refund, yes, a return request with the seller's original tracking, either entered into the case or by calling eBay, showing delivered back to the seller's zipcode.

I'm not sure what this part of your post means. Can you explain it a little more?

slippinjimmy · ‎03-04-2019

Send the buyer ONE message asking them how they would like to proceed, give them two options, a) re-ship if they are willing to pay or B) a refund less original shipping and maybe fees.

Wait until you hear back from them and proceed accordingly. If you never hear anything, put the package on a shelf and do nothing. After some period of time (months, years....) open the package and resell it.

If the buyer wakes up months down the road and you have already resold then give them whatever refund you think is appropriate.

I have a couple packages sitting here in that situation, one of them has been sitting in my storage room since 2003 (Yup 16 years!), it was a $100 item!!!!.

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep

toybrats · ‎03-04-2019

Keep it simple . Deduct the shipping, eBay and PayPal fees and the listing fee and refund. Email the buyer. Tell them that you had no choice but to refund and relist. If they want the items, they will have to rebid and repay. If you don’t want to deal with them again , don’t mention relist.

ste-9405 · ‎03-04-2019

@pburn wrote:
@ste-9405 wrote:
But the buyer can start a SNAD for late delivery to get a full refund, yes, a return request with the seller's original tracking, either entered into the case or by calling eBay, showing delivered back to the seller's zipcode.
I'm not sure what this part of your post means. Can you explain it a little more?

If the item is returned undelivered, but the seller won't refund, start a return request for Doesn't match description or photos due to Late delivery.

Since the item made a round-trip and the seller already has it back, the seller either 1. clicks Accept then the buyer types in the round-trip tracking number, 2. clicks Refund voluntarily, or 3. is forced to refund when eBay steps in.

7606dennis · ‎03-04-2019

In cases like these I advise the buyer, through eBay's messaging system, that the item has been returned to me by the USPS and request that he advise on how he wants to handle the situation. I only send this message once and I secure the item and await his reply.

Depending upon his reply, I handle the situation in the most appropriate fashion. If he wants a refund, I give him one minus the original shipping. Of course, you cannot deduct the original shipping if you offered free shipping.

If he wants it reshipped he will need to pay the cost of that. Unless, of course, there was an error on our part.

If the buyer fails to respond to the message, I secure and store the item until it has passed the time limit that the state sets for it to be considered abandoned. After that I dispose of it as I see fit, keeping the money already paid as compensation for storing the item. However, if the buyer should later contact us regarding it I usually refund minus the original shipping anyway.

"It is an intelligent man that is aware of his own ignorance."

pburn · ‎03-04-2019

We just don't seem to be on the same page at all.

The buyer hasn't filed a case, so there's nothing for the OP, as the seller, to click on. There is no case.

ste-9405 · ‎03-04-2019

@pburn wrote:
We just don't seem to be on the same page at all.

The buyer hasn't filed a case, so there's nothing for the OP, as the seller, to click on. There is no case.

OP @postingid7659 wrote on this page, the very same page we're collectively cradling:

if they open a case, eBay or Paypal should decide in my favor

trustedbasset · ‎03-04-2019

Buyers die or get sick or just forget.

If I can’t get a response from the seller, I just wait, keep it packaged up and hope the buyer didn’t die. I think that’s what happened to one of my buyers. I can’t remember but I think I refunded him. It was like 14 years ago.

Dear God, please help me to be
the person my dog thinks I am.

dinpavent0 · ‎03-04-2019

This happened once to me, I contacted buyer to let them know I received item back. After a month of no contact whatsoever I simply relisted. Never heard from buyer ever again. Thought it was strange since it was a $60 item, I contacted ebay and they said to try and contact buyer. Which i did actually try 3 times. Held on to item for 30 days then just relisted. You never know what happened.